First Annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival

By Kristin Hashimoto

Maui Huliau Foundation, image courtesy of the Maui Huliau Foundation

While Wailea and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center gear up for the Wailea Film Fest, a very special youth film festival will take place. On June 4, I’ao Theatre will screen six films made by students aged 12 to 18 years of age from 12 different schools here on Maui.

Youth from schools across Maui, meet at the Hawaiian Canoe Club in Kahului after school on Mondays. Students meet fifteen times, and work in teams of three to four people to bring a story from inception to screening. Students go on-location, film off-site and utilize handheld cameras. The premise of using low-tech gadgetry is to promote everyone’s storytelling ability with readily available equipment and editing software.

The Maui Huliau Foundation is a grassroots non-profit organization striving to “promote environmental literacy and leadership among Hawaii’s youth through community based educational experiences.” This film program is in its second year, and has found support via community donations from businesses and individuals.

The Historic Iao Theater, File Photo by Wendy OSHER © 2009

Movies begin at 7:00 p.m. and will end around 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $7 for youth aged 18 and younger. Purchase reserved seats for $30. Ticket sales will benefit the Maui Huliau Foundation’s Environmental Filmmaking Club program. For more information visit www.mauionstage.com, or www.mauihuliaufoundation.org. Festival tickets can be obtained via the Maui Huliau website. Call 757-2100 for more details. I’ao Theatre is located at 68 N. Market Street.